Muscle exerciser



April 10, 1962 o. A. ANDERSEN MUSCLE ExERcIsER Filed Jan. 30, 1961 um mw m5 Ww E w E m ,e a

United States Patent 3,029,076 Y MUSCLE EXERCISER Orville A. Andersen, 7800 N. Nora, Niles, Ill. Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 85,564 Claims. (Cl. 272-67) This invention relates to a hand exerciser and especially to one adapted to strengthen the muscles of the hands and arms.

Devices of this type now available are complicated and therefore expensive, and do not provide the maximum results, in that they favor or pamper the user. Therefore an object of this invention is to provide a hand exerciser that is simple and eccenomical to produce.

Another object is to provide a hand exerciser that will not unduly favor or pamper the user and permit him to become lazy.

Another object is to provide a 'hand exerciser having adequate provision for adjustments.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the device, partly in section.

FlG. 2 is another partial cross-sectional View of the device showing the end cap in its centered position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device taken on section line 3 3.

Referring to the drawing; the exerciser comprises a body portion li? and a toggle assembly 12.

Describing the device in detail; body 16 comprises a tubular member 14, preferably of a cylindrical form and which when being used is held in an upright position. Tubular member 14 has a cylindrical bore 16 about a central upright axis 18. The lower portion of bore 16 is threaded as at 20 from the lower end thereof to a point as shown.

An adjusting sleeve or member 22 is also provided with a thread corresponding to thread 20 and which sleeve is thereby adjustable axially in bore 16 by rotating the sleeve in the desired direction, thereby obtaining an adjustment to-be explained later. Appropriate knurling on sleeve 22, as at 2.4 is provided to'permit a convenient grip for the fingers. Sleeve 22 is provided with bores 26 and 28 merely for the purpose of reducing the weight of the exerciser.

A bracket 36 is secured to the periphery of tubular member 14 adjacent the upper end thereof by a suitable means, such as by Welding, and terminates in an end having a first spherical socket 32 co-incident with axis 1S, and at a point spaced from the upper extremity 34 of tubular member 14 as shown in FlG. 1.

Toggle assembly 12 comprises a first strut consisting of an elongated resilient compression member such as a helical spring 36 having squared ends. A recess or seat 38 is provided centrally in the upper end of adjusting sleeve or tensioning member 22 and a thrust disk 40 is inserted in the recess. The lower end of spring 36 rests upon disk 40 as shown in FIG. 1.

A socket member 42 having a second spherical socket 44 is provided with a shank 46 which fits tightly into the inner core of spring 36.

A second strut 43 of a cylindrical cross section is provided with spherical ends 50 and S2 which are compiementary with sockets 32 and 44 so that socket member 42 is free to circle about the periphery of bore 16 at any point thereof and across axis 18. Struts 36 and 48 are of a length to assure substantial contact between sockets 32 and 44, and ends 50 and 52 respectively, of strut 4S when sleeve 22 is at the lowest position of adjustment.

A circular cap 54 of the general shape shown is provided with a central hole 56 of a size to permit assembly of cap S4 on the strut 48 so as to slide freely thereon. Cap 54 has a portion 5S of a size to freely enter the bore ice 16 when the axes of the bore 16 and cap 54 coincide. A ledge 60 rests on extremity 34 when portion 5S enters bore 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

A handle 62 is provided and is to be grasped by the other hand, and is of aluminum or other suitable material. Handle 62 is drilled as shown at 64- for the purpose of lightening it. A shank 66 of rectangular shape is secured to strut 48 approximately at the mid-point of the latter. A corresponding aperture is provided in handle 62 so that shank 66 can slide freely in the handleV 62, for the purpose of adjusting the handle 62 either toward or away from strut 4S, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. l. A set screw 63 provides the means to secure handle 62 in place after making an adjustment.

Sleeve 22 is provided with numbered graduations 70 to indicate pounds or any other unit, to enable the user to know the effort being exerted when using the exerciser.

In summary, the device is used as follows:

Body portion 10 is grasped by one hand and held in an upright position with cap 54 in the position shown in PIG. 1, at rest on extremity 34. Socket member 412 will then be at rest against the periphery or surface of the bore 16. Sleeve 22 is rotated until the desired resistance is indicated by the appropriate number at 70 and its l division coinciding with the edge 72 of body 10.

l and the axis 1S approach coincidence.

Handle 62 is then grasped by the other hand and the handle is then manipulated so that socket 44 approaches coincidence with axis 1S. Portion 58 of cap 54 will then enter bore 16. The effort required to complete the cycle `is dependent upon the amount of pressure stored up in spring 36, and upon the distance of handle 62 from strut 48, and upon the firmness of the grip on handle 62. If the grip on handle 62 is too light, socket member 42 will merely circle the periphery of the bore 16. The requirement for a firm grip increases as the socket 44 For uniform exercising of each hand the device can be reversed as respecting the grip of the body and the handle. To repeat the exercise, cap 54 is lifted by a finger nail.

In order to obtain still more uniform results, the hand grasping the handle 62 can be positioned first with the palm and then with the knuckles toward the user.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed and desired to be claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hand exerciser comprising a body to be grasped by one hand and having a bore about an upright axis, a tensioning member threadedly engaged with the lower end of said bore for am'al adjustment in said bore, the upper end of said tensioning member being provided with a recess central with said axis, the upper extremity of said body about the periphery of said bore being substantially normal to said axis, a bracket secured to said body adjacent said upper extremity and terminating in a first socket co-axial with said axis, spaced from said extremity and facing the latter, a toggle'assembly in said bore comprising a first and a second strut, said first strut comprising a resilient compression member, the lower end thereof being seated in said recess, a socket member having a second socket being seated on the upper end of said compression member, said second socket being opposed to said first socket, said second strut having spherical ends, one of said ends being seated in said first socket and the other end being seated in said second socket, a shank secured to said second strut intermediate the ends thereof and extending laterally from said second strut, a handle for the other hand mounted on said shank, a cap slidable axially on said second strut and normally resting on said upper extremity and having a lower portion that freely enters said bore when said second socket coincides with said axis.

2. A hand exerciser comprising a body to be grasped by one hand and having a bore about an upright axis, an adjusting member threadedly engaged with said bore for axial adjustment, the upperend of said adjusting member being provided with a seat, said body having an upper peripheral surface, a bracket secured to said body and terminating in a rst socket coincident with said axis, spaced from said surface and facing the latter, a toggle assembly in said bore comprising a first strut and a second strut, said rst strut comprising a resilient compression member, the lower end thereof being seated in said seat, a socket member having a second socket being seated on the upper end of said compression member, said second socket member being opposed to said rst socket, said second strut supported flexibly between said first and second sockets, a handle for the other hand secured to said second strut intermediate the ends thereof and extending laterally therefrom, and a cap slidable on said second strut and resting on said surface and having a lower portion that freely enters said bore when said second socket coincides with said axis.

3. A hand exerciser comprising a body to be grasped by one hand and having a bore about an upright axis, an adjusting member axially adjustable in said bore, said body having an upper surface about the periphery of said bore, a bracket on said body terminating in a rst socket coincident with said axis, spaced from said surface and facing the latter, a toggle assembly in said bore comprising a first strut and a second stmt, said first strut comprising a resilient compression member, central positioning means in said adjusting member engaging the lower end of said compression member, a socket member in the upper end of said compression member having a second socket, said second strut being supported by the ends thereof in said rst and second sockets, a handle for the other hand extending laterally from said second strut intermediate the ends thereof, and a cap slidable on said second strut adjacent said surface and resting thereon and having a lower portion that freely enters said bore when said second socket coincides with said axls.

4. A hand exerciser comprising a body to be grasped by one hand and having a bore about an axis, an adjusting member axially adjustable in said bore, said body having an upper surface about the periphery of said bore, a bracket on said body terminating in a first socket coincident with said axis, and spaced from said surface, a toggle assembly in said bore comprising a first strut and a second strut, said first strut comprising a resilient compression member, means in said adjusting member engaging the lower end of said compression member, a socket means in the upper end of said compression member having a second socket, said second strut supported by the ends thereof in said rst and said second sockets, a handle for the other hand extending from said second strut intermediate the ends thereof, and a cap slidable on said second strut and resting on said surface and having a lower portion that freely enters said bore when said second socket approaches coincidence with said axis.

5. A hand exerciser comprising a body to be grasped by one hand and having a bore about an axis, an adjusting means in said bore for axial adjustment, said body having an upper surface about the periphery of said bore, a bracket on said body terminating in a first socket aligned with said axis and spaced from said surface, a toggle assembly in said bore comprising a rst stmt and a second strut, said first strut comprising a resilient compression member abutting said adjusting means at the lower end of said compression member, a socket member in the upper end of said compression member having a second socket, said second strut supported by the ends thereof in said first and second sockets, a handle extending from said second strut intermediate the ends of said second strut, and a cap slidable on said toggle assembly, engaging said surface, and having a portion that freely enters said bore when said second socket approaches coincidence with said axis.

Guth Aug. 9, 1927 Urban July 26, 1955 

